Load handling device and method of operation



P 1960 B. M. BAUERS 2,954,138

LOAD HANDLING mavxcs AND METHOD OF OPERATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 16, 1955 CDC) ' INVENTOR.

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Zl/JM ZJJM ATTORNEY-5 Sept. 27, 1960 a. M. BAUERS 2,954,133

7 LOAD HANDLING DEVICE AND METHOD OF OPERATION Filed Aug. 16, 1955 2 heets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 4.2 Bmero/v M 5005/25 BY ZL/Z. MMriQZMMAb/I A TTOKNEYS LOAD HANDLING DEVICE AND METHOD OF OPERATION Barton M. Bauers, Berlin, N.J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Owens-Coming Fiberglas Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. I6, 1955, Ser. No.52'8,71'7 6 Claims. 01. 214-658) The present invention relates to a device for lifting loads and more specifically to an improved device: for facilitating the handling. and movement of large metal containers in processing. operations and a method of operation of the device from a remote point. The device may be beneficially employed for convenience'or to overcome the presence of the objectionable conditions near the processing operations.

In loading and unloading autoclaves or other vessels such as ovens or furnaces around which frequently exist hazardous or objectionable working conditions, remote automatic load handling is highly desirable, if not absolutely required. The hazardous or objectionable conditions may be due to heat, vapor, dust, radiation or other conditions which prohibit the proximity of operators in the performance of charging and discharging operations.

1 course, the accessibility of the process unit for close manual operation varies depending upon the dangerousness or oppressiveness of the adverse conditions. In many operations container loads cannot be handled by conventional means such as a hook and 'clevis because of the inability of operators to manually engage or dis- --Patented Sept. '27, 1960 2. of drawings, on which. by way of preferred example only, is illustrated one'embodiment of this invention.

On the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional load supporting system incorporating the present invention in the upper central portion of the suspended container;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the container shown in Fig. '1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a similar enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2 at right angles to Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the liftingmec'hanism used for vertical movement of the container taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

The illustrated embodiment of my invention shows in Fig. 1 a conventional overhead monorail system which is supported by a rigidly mounted member 10. The member 10 consists of a continuous horizontal inverted channel extending the length of the system designed to safely support traveling loads in any position when transported along the monorail system. A track 11 is firmly attached to the supporting member 10 at its lower extremity forming the continuous single track of the carrier system. The bottom portion of the track 11 is comprised of two outwardly extending flanges one on each side ofthe support member 10' upon which two pairs of joined wheels 1-2"travel to carry the suspended loads.

' The two pairs of wheels 12 are connected to a load bar 7 load supporting wheels 12. "Of course other carrier sys' engage the loads located within or adjacent to the ad=- verse conditions. I

Limitations which prevent the proximate performance of loading and unloading operations arewell-k-nown par: ticularly in processes which require the operation or autoclaves where container loads are lowered into and removed from the autoelaves before and after reaction. in these operations the products-remain within the same basket-like metalcontainers during their processing. as used for transporting the products. The areas surrounding the autoclaves are subjected to considerable heat and vapor when the autoclaves are opened so that loading and unloading of the containers must be conducted from a safe distance.

One object of the subject invention is'to provide an improved form of load supporting device for handling and transporting large metal containers holding products to be processed, which device furnishes support forheavy loads when engaged and permits convenient and eflicient control of its engagement and disengagement from a distant point. 1

Another object of this invention is to furnish a load handling device which has a compact simple structure which is positive and durable in its load supporting position and provides suitable means for elementary remote operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a load handling device which may be employed with a plurality of containers incorporating the device to furnish a high level of efii'ciency in handling and transporting contained products in adverse surroundings. V

The specific nature of this invention, as Well as other objects and advantages thereof, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed'description taken in conjunction with the annexed sheets tween the two pairs of wheels 12 a solid round vertical member or support bar 15 extending downward from the horizontal load bar- '14. The load attached to the support bar 15 is equally distributed between the pairs of 1 wheels 12 to maintain the suspended load in balanced position. The support bar 15 is moveable vertically with respect to the horizontal load bar 14 by means of a reversible electric motor 42 and worm gear 43 assembly shown slung beneath the load bar 14 in Figs. 1 and 5. The support bar 15 is threaded on its upper portion 45 as shown in Fig. 5 to facilitate and control its longitudinal movement when the worm gear 43 and gear wheel 44 are rotated by the motor 42. The gear wheel 44' is mounted around the bar 15 and has an interior" mating thread to engage the screw thread on the upper portion 45 of the bar 15. Thus the bar 15 is positively connected to the electric motor 42 and moved vertically thereby. V

r A' detachable container 16, which has the form of a large rectangular metal basket, is supported at its center by a vertical member consisting of a bar'or tube 17. The container 16 may have an open or closed top 21 and is preferably supported by the vertical solid bar or tube 17 attached to the central portion of its bottom 18 at a point equidistant from its vertical side Walls. The tube 17 extends up through the central area of' the container 16 to a point near its top 21. Whether the container top 21 be open or closed, access to the top portion of the tube 17 is provided. Supported within the open metal container 16 are shown cylindrical products 19 to be processed Within the reaction vessel illustrative of insulating material which is indurated within an autoclave. Fig. 1 shows the products 19 in broken lines within the container 16. The products 19 are located in upright positions spaced apart within the container 16 surrounding the metal support tube 17 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The novel load handling device embodied in my invention is located in the upper central portion of the container 16 at the top of the support tube 17. The vertical bar 15 is designed to penetrate an especially designed fitting 24) on the upper end of the container support tube 17. By locating the fitting 20 within the upper portion of the container 16 a plurality of the containers may be conveniently stacked one on top of another either for storage or processing with the fitting 20 of the topmost container readily available for engagement. Of course, in order to stack the containers the support bar 15 is required to have a greater overall length and a longer threaded portion than that shown in Figs. 1 and respectively;

The fitting 20 is located in the upper portion of the container 16 readily available for engagement with the lower operating end of the bar 15. As shown in Fig. l the bar requires only a minimum amount of vertical movement from free passage over the container top 21 to its engagement with the fitting within the container 16. The special fitting 20 comprises a part of the load handling device and each container to be handled thereby is so equipped.

The bottom section of the solid vertical support bar 15 attached to the carrier system is slotted to receive a freely rotatable locking dog as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The slot 24 is made slightly wider than the thickness of the locking dog 25 to allow for free rotation of the dog 25. The slot 24 is cut through the longitudinal center line of the bar 15 upward from the bottom end 32 a sufficient distance to allow the locking dog 25 to be freely moveably in full circular rotation when pinned within the slot 24. The upper portion of the slot 24 as shown is semi-circular in shape of slightly greater radius than the radius of the rotatable locking dog, or the upper wall of the slot 24 may extend transversely through the bar 15 in a horizontal line, to furnish sufficient clearance for the dog 25 to rotate completely within the bar 15. One side surface of the slot 24 which contacts one surface of the dog 25 is smoothly finished to constitute a bearing surface 41 for the rotating dog.

A shaft or bolt 26 extends through a horizontal opening in the bar 15 near its bottom end 32 perpendicular to and through the medial area of the slot 24. The bolt 26 passes through the center of the locking dog 25 to hold it in a moveable position within the slot 24. The opening for the bolt 26 is made larger on one side of the slot 24 opposite to the smooth bearing surface 41 to provide a circular horizontal recess 34 to accommodate an additional working portion of the device adjacent to the slot 24. The shoulder bolt 26 extends transversely through the bar 15 with neither of its two extremities protruding beyond the external diameter of the bar 15. The dog 25 is rotatable within the slot 24 by a rack and pinion arrangement Within the recess 34 with the bolt 26 forming a transverse axle.

The locking dog 25 has the shape of a segmented circle formed by two parallel chords equidistant from the center and has a greater length than the diameter of the vertical bar 15. The greater length of the locking dog 25 and its curved end surfaces are designed to fulfill the required loading characteristics of a particular application of the load handling device. One surface of the dog 25 is smoothly finished to form a bearing surface 23 to contact the similarly smooth bearing surface 41 of the slot 24 to which it is contiguous in operating position. The bearing surfaces 41 and 28 of the slot 24 and the dog 25 respectively are located on the opposite side of the slot 24 from the recess 34. The locking dog 25 is located in a rotatable position within the slot 24 with 4 the bolt 26 forming a transverse axis to permit the dog. 25 to rotate freely through 360.

On the same axis of the transverse shoulder bolt 26 a one-way jaw clutch 27 is located within the recess 34 with one end attached to the locking dog 25 on the opposite side from its bearing surface 28. The other end of the mating jaw clutch 27 is afiixed to a spur gear 29 located on the same axis of the bolt 26 within the recess 34. A spring 30 is located within a smaller horizontal extension of the recess 34 in line with the bolt 26 pressing against the other face of the spur gear 29. The spring 30 is of suitable tension to place compressive force upon the engaging faces of the one-Way jaw clutch 27 to obtain one-way rotation of the locking dog 25. The compressive force of the spring 30 is sufiicient to join the spur gear 29 and dog 25 through the jaw clutch 27 When the gear 29 is operated in one direction and to permit disengagement of the clutch 27 when the gear 29 is operated in the reverse direction.

In line with and engaging the spur gear 29 is a linear geared rack 31 having teeth which mesh with those of the rotatable spur gear 29 when the rack 31 is moved longitudinally. The rack 31 is located in m off-center longitudinal hole or recess 23 drilled in the vertical bar 15 upward from its bottom end 32 passing through one side of the circular horizontal recess 34. The rack 31 extends downward beyond the bottom end 32 and upward into the vertical recess 23 so that its geared teeth tangentially engage the teeth of the spur gear 29. A spring 33 is located between the upper end of the geared rack 31 and the upper extremity of its operating recess 23. The rack 31 is spring loaded by the spring 33 to the maximum down position extending a suitable length below the bottom end 32 of the vertical bar 15 with its up permost teeth engaging the gear 29. Angular rotation of the spur gear 29 is accomplished by vertical travel of the rack 31. When the spur gear 29 is rotated clockwise as shown in Fig. 3 by the entry of the rack 31 into the bar 15, the clockwise rotation of the gear 29 is transmitted to the dog 25 by engagement of the mating faces of the one-way jaw clutch 27. The dog 25 thus rotates through the same angle as the gear 29 when the latter is moved in a clockwise direction. ,The dog 25 and the gear 29 rotate around the same axis formed by the bolt 26 perpendicular to the support bar 15. Above the bolt 26 and in vertical alignment therewith is located a spring detent 46 extending into the slot 24 on its bearing surface 41. Another similar spring detent 47 is located in horizontal alignment at right angles to the dog 25 in its horizontal position also extending into the slot 24 on its bearing surface 41. Two recesses or small indentations 48 are placed 180 apart on the longitudinal axis of the dog 25 either one of which is engaged by one of the spring detents 4-6 'or 47 in the en aged or disengaged position of the dog 25. When the detent 46 holds the dog 25 by one of its indentations 48 in the vertical position, it is positioned for disengagement, and when the detent 47 holds the dog 25 in horizontal position, it is in locking or engaging arrangement.

As previously described the basket-like container 16 is constructed to support the required loading at a central point on its bottom 18 by a vertical bar or tube 17 attached to the bottom 18 and extending upward to a position near the top 21 of the container 16. At the top of the supporting bar or tube 17 is positioned a special fitting 20 which is made an integral part of the central supportend mounted perpendicular to its Vertical axis. The fitting 20 which has approximately the same external diameter as the tube 17 is solidly attached to the tube 17 above the striking plate 35. The fitting 20 is vertically bored so that its minimum internal diameter will allow the support bar 15 to pass freely through the fitting to allow the bar end 32 to contact the internal strikingplate 35. The upper edge portion of the fitting 20 is bored larger than the bar 15 with a tapering surface 39 extending downward to the minimum diameter into the medial portion of the fitting to facilitate the insertion of the bar 15 into the fitting 20. The lower portion of the-fitting 20 is bored slighly larger than the overall length of the locking dog 25 to, permit its rotation therein. The larger diameter internal surface 36 extends upward from the bottom of the fitting 20 Where it meets the striking plate 35 to the center portion of the fitting 20 where the interior surface 38 is reduced in diameter. The surface 38 is formed with a concave spherical shape which conforms to the same spherical radius of the locking dog 25. The height of the spherical shape of the internal contoured surface 38 is somewhat less than one-half the width of the locking dog 25. At the top of the spherical shaped surface 38 a transverse edge or lip 37 is formed perpendicular to the vertical axis of the fitting 20. The lip 37 conforms to the linear edge'of the dog 25 and extends inwardly to the minimum diameter of the fitting 20. Thus, the locking dog 25 may be rotated within the lower portion of the fitting 20 but cannot pass through the upper portion of the fitting 20 while in a transverse position. With lip 37 and surface 38 forming a circular t ISVerse edge and a concave spherical surface respectively, the locking dog 25 contacts both the lip 37- and surface 38 when engaged therewithin any-transverse position to hold the two major'members of the device, the bar 1 5 and fitting 20, firmly joined in vertical alignment.

To attach the overhead Wheeled carrier to the container 16 the locking dog 25 at the bottom of the support bar 15 is rotated to a vertical position by elevating the extreme lower end 40 of the rack 31 which pnotrudes from the bar 15 to its uppermost position flush with the lower bar end 32. This rotation of the locking dog 25 may be performed manually or automatically by either pushing the rack 31 upward by hand or lowering the support bar 15 by the motor 42 to have the rack 31 contact another surface and thus be pushed upward. The wheeled carrier with its attached support bar 15 is moved to a position over and in line with the container 16 incorporating the vertical tubular fitting 20. The. support bar 15 is lowered by means of the motor 42 and worm gear 43 into the fitting 20 being initially guided by the tapering surface 39. When the protruding rack 31 contacts the striking plate 35 it is moved into the bar 15 simultaneously rotating the spur gear 29 and the locking dog 25. Lowering of the bar 15 is continued until the lower bar end 32 contacts the striking plate 35 at which time the calculated upward travel of the rack extension has rotated the locking dog 25 through a right angle.

When the vertical direction of the wheeled carrier is reversed and the bar 15 is moved upwardly, the transverse locking dog 25 slides upward until it engages the lip 37 and the surrounding spherical surface 38 immedienga ing lip 31 before the racket contacts the plate as and starts the rotation of the dog 25. The rack 31 is then forced upward within the bar until the striking plate 35 and bottom bar end 32 make contact. During the upward travel of the rack 31 the spur gear 29 and locking dog 25 are similarly rotated through an angle of 90 to place the locking dog 25 in a vertical position held by the detent 46 for withdrawal of the support bar 15 from the fitting 20.

With the support bar 15 permanently attached to the tram rail carrier and fitting permanently attached to the vertical tube 17 within the container 16 the locking ately below. The ejection of the rack 31 from the bar 15, although it rotates the gear 29 in a counter-clockwise direction, does not affect the position of the dog 25 bedog 25 is rotated each time the rack 31 is operated from its extended position to a position flush with the bar end 32. The full st-r'foke of the rack 31 is designed to rotate the spur gear 29 and the dog 25 exactly 90. When the spring 33 which is compressed by the rack 31 being driven into the bar 15 is permitted to eject the rack 31 by separationof the bot-tom end 32 and plate 35, the spur gear 29. is rotated counterclockwise through a right angle in afiee' wheeling or disengaging direction of the one-way clutch 27.- During the counterclockwise rotation of the gear 29 the dog 25 remains undisturbed in fixed osition either in the engaged or disengaged position. Each upward movement of the rack; 31" within the bar 15 is able to move the locking dog 25 clockwise through a right angle while the downward movement of the rack 31 does not affect the position of the locking dog 25. Thus, the locking dog 25 is alternately engaged and disengagdby each upward'operation of the rack extension-.-

The devicefurnishes; a; positive supporting means for handling and transporting containers a's shown herein, but maybe employed to support otherj'objects, incorporating the required fitting. e

Various modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A load handling device comprising a rigid bar and a rigid hollow fitting, said bar adapted for insertable cooperation with said rigid hollow fitting, an end portion of said bar having a substantially uniform diameter over its insertable length, said fitting having an internal locking shoulder portion, said bar adapted to be locked to said fitting, a rigid rotatable locking dog mounted in said bar, and a rack and gear device adapted to rotate said dog about a transverse axis into and out of locking position with said shoulder.

2. A load handling device defined in claim 1 including a spring loaded rack and gear device adapted to rotate said dog through substantially right angles into and out of locking position with said shoulder.

3. The combination of a load bar, a container comprising a floor and side walls, means for detachably suspending the container with a load therein from said load bar, said suspending means including telescoping members comprising an outer tubular member and an inner member, a vertical shaft connected at its lower end to the floor of the container centrally of said floor, said tubular telescoping member being attached to said shaft and extending upwardly therefrom, said inner telescoping member being formed With a vertical slot, a locking bar positioned in said slot, a horizontal shaft journaled in said inner member and extending transversely through said slot and the locking bar and to which the locking bar is keyed, a gear shaft mounted in line with said horizontal shaft, a gear on said gear shaft, a vertically disposed rack mounted for up-and-down movement in said inner telescoping member and running in mesh with said gear, a one-way clutch connecting said horizontal shaft and gear shaft, a motor mounted on said load bar, means forming a driving connection between the motor and said inner telescoping member for moving the latter up and down, said vertical shaft forming a stop below and in the path of said rack bar whereby the vertical downward movement of said inner telescoping member. operates to arrest the rack bar so that the continued downward movement of the inner telescoping member operates through the rack and gear to rotate the locking bar to a horizontal locking position, the tubular telescoping member being formed with a stop surface in position to engage the locking bar when the latter is in said locking position.

4. A load-handling device comprising a rigid bar, a rigid hollow fitting of a size and shape to receive an end portion of said bar and into and out of which said end portion of the bar is movable, the said end portion of the bar being of substantially uniform diameter through its insertable length, means carried by said bar for locking the bar and fitting together, said means comprising a rotatable locking dog, said bar being formed with a long-i tudinal opening in which the dog is rotatably mounted, and means for rotating said locking dog comprising a gear disengageably attached thereto and a rack carried by said bar and running in mesh With the gear.

5. A load handling device comprising a rigid bar having an operating end portion and a rigid hollow fitting into which said end portion is insertable and with which it is engageable, said end portion having a substantially uniform diameter over its insertable length, said end portion formed with a longitudinal slot therein, a unitary locking dog rotatably mounted in said slot for complete rotation therein, the dog being of greater length than said uniform diameter of said end portion and of uniform thickness less than the width of said longitudinal slot, said fitting having an internal surface contoured to permit the rotation of said locking dog in a lower portion and engagement of said locking dog in an upper portion when said locking dog is in a transverse position and operating means to rotate the locking dog in one direction consisting of a gear located adjacent to said locking dog and rotatable upon the same transverse axis, a one way clutch located between said gear and locking dog, and a geared rack tangentially contacting said gear and extending beyond said end portion of said rigid bar to provide rotating means for both the gear and locking dog by movement of said rack into said end portion by contact of its outer extremity with a transverse inner portion of said fitting.

6. A load handling device comprising a rigid bar and a rigid hollow fitting, said bar adapted for insertable cooperation with said rigid hollow fitting, an end portion of said bar having a substantially uniform diameter over its insertable length, said fitting having a transverse internal abutment, said fitting also having an internal locking shoulder portion, said bar adapted to be locked to said fitting, a rigid rotatable locking dog mounted in said bar, and operating means adapted to contact said transverse internal abutment of said hollow fitting to rotate the locking dog in one direction about a transverse axis to alternate positions of engagement and disengagement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 672,788 Lieber et a1 Apr. 23, 1901 735,616 Stitt Aug. 4, 1903 870,764 Christianson Nov. 12, 1907 1,506,827 Gellert Sept. 2, 1924 1,776,776 Blackmarr Sept. 30, 1930 2,444,122 Wahl June 29, 1948 2,584,124 Gustafson Feb. 5, 1952 2,610,082 Hill Sept. 9, 1952 2,610,888 Pace Sept. 16, 1952 2,634,156 Crimmel Apr. 7, 1953 

